The significant rise in demand for food, propelled by the rapid rise in the global population, has impelled farmers and agriculturists to utilize herbicides in increased quantities on crops. Owing to this, the demand for herbicides has been witnessing a remarkable surge in the recent times.

Analysts at TMR expect this trend to increase substantially over the next few years. The opportunity in the global market for herbicides, which stood at US$22.3 bn in 2014, is likely to expand at a CAGR of 6.20% from 2015 to 2023 and reach US$38.3 bn by the end of 2023.

Increasing Demand for Grains Fuels Application of Herbicides in Cereals and Grains Segment

Herbicides find widespread application in cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, oilseeds and pulses, and other crops. The demand for herbicides was the strongest in the cereals and grains segment in 2014 with a share of 37.1%. The significant rise in the demand for grains is the key driving factor behind this growth.

Analysts expect the cereal and grains segment to remain leading during the period from 2015 to 2023. The Fruits and vegetables segment, however, is likely to record the fastest growth in the demand for herbicides in the coming years. The shifting preference of consumers from traditional food to fruits and green and leafy vegetables, propelled by the increasing awareness regarding fitness and healthcare, is anticipated to fuel the application of herbicides in this segment.

Latin America to Report Fastest Growth in Demand for Herbicides

Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World are the main regional markets for herbicides. Among these, Asia Pacific has emerged as the leading herbicide consumer. It accounted for a share of nearly 28% in the overall demand for herbicides in 2014. Latin America closely followed Asia Pacific in 2014 and is expected to report the fastest increase in the demand for herbicides over the next few year.

The huge population base, especially in India and China, has created a massive need for food in Asia Pacific. Apart from this, most of the countries in this region are agrarian economies, which primarily rely on cultivation. As the crop yields in this region have been declining since the last few years, farmers in Asia Pacific are compelled to spray herbicides on their crops to increase productivity as well as quality.

As a result, the demand of herbicides in Asia Pacific has soared remarkably in the recent time and is expected to remain so over the next few years. Driven by this increased consumption, Asia Pacific is likely to retain its leadership in the coming years.

Europe, which held a share of nearly 20% in the global market in 2014, is anticipated register moderate growth and lose some market share in the near future. Similarly, the Middle East and Africa is likely to witness sluggish growth over the next few years due to the lack of arable land, which in turn, will limit the demand for herbicides in this region.

Competitive Landscape of Global Herbicides Market - Snapshot

The global market for herbicides demonstrates a moderately fragmented landscape. Syngenta AG, Bayer CropScience AG, BASF SE, Dow AgroSciences LLC, and ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd. are the leading herbicides producers across the world. In 2014, these players accounted for a share of nearly 53% in this market. Some of the other prominent market participants are Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Monsanto Co., DuPont, Nufarm Ltd., and FMC Corp.

As a consequence of the growing population worldwide, the demand for food and cereals has increased. However, agricultural production has not increased at a similar pace in response to the increasing population. Hence, it has become rather necessary to improve the crop yield worldwide. The market for herbicides, therefore, has been exhibiting steady growth over the past few years. Herbicides are chemicals used to prevent the growth of unwanted vegetation and weed that compete with crops for water and nutrients. The use of these chemicals is intended to help farmers maximize their crop yield.

For the purpose of the study, the global herbicides market has been segmented in terms of product type, crop, and region. Based on product, the market is segmented into acetochlor, glyphosate, atrazine, 2,4-D, and others (including dicamba, isoxaflutole, glufosinate, metolachlor, and imazapyr. In terms of crop, the report segments the market into cereal and grain, fruits and vegetables, oilseeds and pulses, and others (including grass, ornamental plant, floriculture, and turf). Furthermore, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America constitute the key regional markets for herbicides.

The report provides holistic insights into the prevailing dynamics of the global herbicides market. It includes exhaustive data obtained from trusted industrial sources to forecast how the future of the market looks like. Using industry-standard tools such as SWOT analysis and feasibility study, it weighs out the strengths and weaknesses of the major companies operating in the market. The report also studies the impact of Porter’s five forces on the global herbicides market.

Overview of the Global Herbicides Market

The global herbicides market, which in 2014 stood at US$22.3 bn, is anticipated to reach US$38.3 bn by 2023. The market will therefore rise at a positive CAGR of 6.20% between 2015 and 2023. The market will be primarily driven by the rapidly increasing demand for grains spurred by the growing population.

While food scarcity continues to be a major problem around the world, due to significant developments in agricultural techniques and irrigation facilities in the past, the agricultural sector has been successful in steadying its impact. According to the latest surveys, the global population will cross 9 bn by 2050. Considering the future scenario of food demand, significant improvements are necessary to boost efficient use of resources. Herbicides present an optimum pest and land management solution that is essential to improve the resource efficiency.

Regionally, Asia Pacific dominates the global herbicides market in terms of volume. It held over 25% of the global herbicides market in 2014. The region is likely to retain its dominance in the near future, followed by North America and Latin America. However, the Asia Pacific herbicides market will exhibit growth at a moderate pace.

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